Sida’s International Training Program on “Media Regulation in a Democratic Framework”

Deadline: 4 August 2019

Applicants are invited to apply for the international training program on the topic of “Media Self-Regulation”.

The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency SIDA / Sida commissioned NIRAS Sweden / NIRAS Sweden, together with colleagues from International Media Support (IMS), Fojo Media institute/Linnaeus University and Global Reporting Sweden AB, to organize an international training program for applicants.

This program should contribute to the development of mechanisms for self-regulation of the media sector, strengthening institutional and organizational capacities for such self-regulation. Persons interested in effective media operations should contribute to the implementation of national reforms and begin the process of change throughout the media space.

The media have the opportunity to actively participate in public life, to prosecute, to be a platform for dialogue and to protect the rights of individual citizens. But in order for the media to fulfill this important role, it is necessary to create an updated regulatory framework adapted to the new conditions of their existence.

Goals

The main goal is to create program participants and them the conditions for promotion and provision institutional processes, managers self-regulation of the media.
Ways to achieve the goal within the program:
- formation of participants and their leaders organizations understanding the benefits of working in a system of self-regulation of the media;
- use by participants of the knowledge gained in work on their own transformation projects;
- Inclusion of participants and their organizations in dialogue on regional level on regulation issues Media in the framework of democratic principles.

Benefits

Upon completion of the program, participants and their organizations should receive the following benefits:

new knowledge about media work and freedom of speech that are related to politics, journalism and media self-regulation;
expansion of national and international network of professional contacts;
New information on human rights, gender equality, safety of journalists and other representatives of the media;
expanding the range of knowledge and opportunities to start long-term structured work on transformations both in the relevant organizations and beyond.

Program Stages

The training program consists of five obligatory stages. The system-forming link is a transformation project, the work on which passes through the red thread through all stages.

Stage 1 – initial – duration of 3 month
Stage 2 – visit to Sweden – duration of 3 weeks
Stage 3 – Project Development – Duration 4 months
Stage 4 – workshop in one of the participating countries – duration 2 weeks
Stage 5 – practical implementation – duration 6 months

Eligibility Criteria

Representatives are invited to participate in the program the following countries: Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia.
The program is created for those who are capable of different methods to promote professional standards and principles of self-regulation of the media sector in the countries of the participants. The program management will identify strategically important participants from the media sector. They can become representatives of the press councils and mass media, independent organizations protecting freedom of speech, institutions dealing with media rights or politics, relevant ministries and departments, parliamentary committees and independent media.
In spite of the fact that the program is focused on individual participants, it is addressed, first of all, to organizations. In the process of implementation of the project, long-term relationships with key ones are envisaged organizations participating in the program. They should be tuned to work in a project for several years and are ready to interact with other organizations that may have other approaches to the normative-
- a legal base in the media sector. Readiness to manage processes aimed at achieving long-term goals
- a necessary condition of cooperation.
Applicants for the program must:
- to take a key position in the organization and to influence decision-making at the strategic level;
- be able to initiate change processes and manage;
- excellent knowledge of Russian;
- have the appropriate education;
- be accessible and motivated to the active one participation in the program throughout its course.
Because the program seeks to provide a gender balance of participants, organizations are strongly recommended to nominate female candidates.